我們的朋友正在醫院等待第一個孩子的到來，而我們這群多年的好友也同樣殷切期待。因此在收到他們喜獲千金的消息時，大家都迫不及待地為他們慶祝，並幫忙傳喜訊給那些還不知道好消息的朋友們。

迎接新生兒的到來真是令人興奮不已。在耶穌降生之前，以色列人一直引頸期盼彌賽亞（以色列的拯救者）到來。他們等待的時間不是幾個月，而是一個世代又一個世代。可想而知，過了這麼多年的等待，虔誠的猶太人一定很想知道，自己在有生之年是否能看到上帝應許的彌賽亞。

一天夜裡，從天上傳來人們期待已久的好消息，一位天使向伯利恆的牧羊人顯現，宣告彌賽亞終於降生了：「你們要看見一個嬰孩，包著布，臥在馬槽裡，那就是記號了」（路加福音2章12節）。牧羊人見過嬰孩耶穌後，就讚美上帝，並把「這嬰孩的事傳開了」（17節，當代譯本修訂版）。

上帝要牧羊人知道，他們殷切期盼的彌賽亞已經到來，好讓他們將救主耶穌已經降生的好消息傳出去。時至今日，我們仍然慶祝祂的降生，因祂犧牲生命拯救了所有相信祂的人，將你我從罪惡的世界中拯救出來。我們不用再等待，就能經歷平安與喜樂，這真是值得宣揚的好消息！

It felt like we’d been waiting forever for news that our pregnant neighbor had welcomed her first baby. When a sign declaring “It’s a Girl!” finally appeared on their front lawn, we celebrated the birth of their daughter and texted friends who might not have seen the outdoor display.

There’s great excitement awaiting the arrival of a baby. Before Jesus’ birth, the Jewish people hadn’t just been waiting a few months, they’d longed for the birth of the Messiah, Israel’s expected rescuer, for generations. I imagine that over the years faithful Jews wondered if during their lifetime they would see the fulfillment of this promise. 

One night the long-anticipated news was displayed in the heavens when an angel appeared to shepherds in Bethlehem announcing that the Messiah had finally been born. He told them, “This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). After the shepherds saw Jesus, they praised God and “spread the word” (v. 17) about the baby.

God wanted the shepherds to know that the long-awaited baby had arrived so they could tell others about Jesus’ birth. We still celebrate His birth because His life provides rescue from the brokenness of the world to anyone who believes. We no longer have to wait to know peace and experience joy, which is good news worth announcing!